Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to officiate the new National Scam Response Centre office at Tower 2 of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in Cyberjaya next month. The new facility marks a further step in strengthening Malaysia’s response to online fraud and financial crime.

The relocation is part of the government’s broader efforts to improve coordination, speed, and effectiveness when handling fraud cases and assisting victims.

Relocation Aims To Improve Speed And Coordination

Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the NSRC has moved from its previous location at Sasana Kijang, Bank Negara Malaysia, to MCMC Tower 2 to support more integrated operations.

According to Fahmi, the new location allows agencies to work more closely together, enabling faster decision-making when responding to reports of online fraud. He shared these details in an exclusive interview with Bernama.

Expanded Operations And Higher Call Volumes

The NSRC was first launched on 12 October 2022 and operates through the 997 hotline. At the time, it handled around 300 to 400 calls daily and operated between 8am and 8pm.

Since relocating to MCMC Tower 2 on 17 November, the centre now operates 24 hours a day and receives between 500 and 700 calls daily. Fahmi said the increase reflects growing public awareness of the NSRC as the main channel for immediate assistance following online fraud incidents.

Early Reporting Improves Fund Recovery Chances

Fahmi advised victims of online fraud to contact the NSRC within 30 to 60 minutes after an incident. He said prompt reporting significantly increases the likelihood of freezing accounts and recovering transferred funds.

Delays in reporting, he added, remain one of the main challenges in tracing fund movements and preventing further losses.

Stronger Cooperation With Police And Banks

The NSRC operates under the purview of the Home Ministry and continues to be strengthened to improve its rapid-response capabilities. This includes closer cooperation between the Royal Malaysia Police and commercial banks.

Representatives from these institutions are now based at the new operations centre, allowing quicker coordination when accounts need to be frozen or transaction trails need to be traced.

Data Helps Identify Fraud Patterns

Preliminary analysis conducted by the NSRC suggests that online fraud activities often follow certain time patterns. Fahmi said these insights could support additional preventive measures, including further cooperation with commercial banks.

He noted that past actions taken by banks have already shown positive results, and further proposals may be considered to strengthen prevention and response efforts.

All Forms Of Online Fraud Treated Equally Under the Law

Fahmi emphasised that the government does not differentiate between victims based on how they were deceived. Whether victims were drawn in by investment schemes or other methods, all forms of online fraud are treated as crimes.

He said the defining factor is fraud itself, regardless of victims’ expectations or beliefs about potential financial returns.

Laws Updated To Support Clear Enforcement

According to Fahmi, several laws have been amended to clearly define online fraud and support enforcement action. These legal updates ensure that action can be taken consistently, regardless of the nature of the fraud or the circumstances that led to it.

The government’s position, he said, is that all online fraud cases deserve equal attention and response under the law.

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